Chin rest for violins and similar musical instruments



Sept. 1, 1931. K. MA! 1,821,811

CHIN BEST FOR VIOLINS AND SIMILAR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Dec. 20,1928 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATE-51S KURT MAI, OF STUTTGAR'I,GERMANY CHIN BEST FOR VIOLIEIS AND SIMELAB MUSICAL INSTRUMENTSApplication filed December 20, 1528, Serial No. 327,410, and in GermanyDecember 24', 1927;.

The present invention relates to a chin rest for violins and similarmusical instruments.

Stringed instruments and similar instruments are usually equipped with achin rest, whereby the instrument can be held with greater ease thanwithout such device. The more exact the form of such chin restcorrespends with the form of the jaw-bone of the musician, the betterthe purpose of the device will be fulfilled. Now, the jaws of thedifferent human races and also the jaws of the different individualsbelonging to the same race are very differently formed and it is clearthat the usual chin rests, which are pro- 5 duced on .a larger scalefrom wood, celluloid or similar materials do not fit the chin of themusician. Even in case a chin rest is specially manufactured and formedafter the chin of the violinist, it will only fit correctly at a certainposition of the head and the instrument. During the play however therelative positions of the head and the instrument will changefrequently, so that even such individually formed chin rest will notfulfill its purpose. On the contrary, chin rests of the last mentionedkind, will be uncommodious in use and may create red irritated spots onthe chin, inflammation of the skin, grown in hairs et cetera.

According to the present invention the above named inco veniences areremedied by equipping a chin rest with an elastic jaw supporting edge,which will accommodate itself .after all possible aw forms at anyposition of the head relatively to the instrument.

A constructional form of the invention is shown by Way of an example inthe accom-, panying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a top View of the chinrest.

Fig. 2 is an end view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view after the line 33 in Fig. 2, whereby one endhas been broken away and the valve device has been turned 90 to theside.

Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 show a detail seen from above resp. from the side.

The base plate a (Figs. L8) consists of wood, celluloid or a similarsuitable material and is like the usual chin rests. The base 50 plate isequipped with grooves, by means of which an elastic jaw supporting edgemay be connected to the base. This supporting edge may for instanceconsist of a; rubber bladder b (Fig. 3-)f, which by means-of avalve 0may be inflated in the same manner as cycle. tires. Anair tightconnection between the valve and the rubber bladder is provided by meansof the connecting piece cl (Figs. 2 and 3), which isequipped with athreaded opening, which cooperates with a correspondingly threaded parton the valve body proper. he connecting or support piece (Z isfurtherequipped with abore, which serves as an inlet for the valve 0 and whichmay be closed by .ieans of a. screw 6. When the screw is. removed airmay be blown into the bladder 6 through the valve 0. Below the rubberbladder a metal frame 7 (Figs. 4 and 5-) is located, which is resting ingrooves in slots in the base a. At the front end of the-base a groove isprovided, which as shown in the Figures 1 and 3 is adaptedtota-keup theelliptical edge of the frame. The rear end of the base is formed with.slots adapted to receive lugs f on the frame. The lugs are formedwithapertures, through which screws arepassed by means of which theframema-y besecurely fastened to the base plate.

The rubber bladder b is held on the. said metal framef by means ofacover. 9. (Fig. 3), which consists of leather, fabric or the like andwhich on all sides caught below the said frame. The cover 9 may also beconnected to the frame before the different parts of the device areassembled, in which casethe rubber bladder is inserted from belowthrough the open space in the frame, whereby: the connecting piece (Zwill slide into the slot like opening in the frame Each chin: rest isfurnished with a spare jaw support of wood or another hard suitablematerial, which may be substituted for the elastic chin rest or part ofthe same. In this way each chin rest possesses one aw support of theusual kind and another elastic aw sup port. If the frame with thebladder and the cover together have been inserted to replace the hardjaw support and the bladder has been inflated, then the chin rest willpos sees an elastic jaw supporting edge.

Instead of an inflated bag or bladder other suitable means may of coursebe used for producing an elastic jaw supporting rest.

It is also possible to dispense with the base plate a and to build upthe chin rest by means of a metal or celluloid frame and an elastic bodyalone.

Instead of air, water or an other suitable substance may be used forfilling the bladder.

The frame as well as the base plate may be composed from aluminium, ametallic alloy, hard rubber, artificial resins or any other suitablematerial.

The free ends of the frame 7 shown in Fig. 4 may also be joined by asmall bridge as shown in striated lines in Fig. 4.

I claim:

1. A chin rest for stringed musical instruments, comprising a rigidmember adapted to be contacted by the chin and an elastic j awsupporting edge, covering part of said rigid member.

2. A chin rest for stringed musical instruments, comprising incombination, a rigid base member, an elastic jaw supporting edgecovering part of said base member and means for connecting the saidparts to an instrument.

3. A chin rest for stringed musical instruments, comprising incombination, a rigid base member, a frame detachably connected to thesame, an elastic jaw supporting edge covering part of said base memberand resting on said frame and means for connecting the said parts to aninstrument.

4. A chin rest for stringed musical instruments, comprising incombination, a rigid base member, a frame connected to the same, aninflated bag covering part of said base member and resting on saidframe, an inlet and outlet valve in the said bag and means forconnecting the said parts to an instrument.

5. A chin rest for stringed musical instruments, comprising incombination, a rigid base member, a frame connected to the same, aninflated bag covering part of said base member and resting on saidframe, an inlet and outlet valve in the said bag, a connecting memberconnecting the said bag air tight to said valve, a cover for the saidbag and means for connecting the said parts to an instrument.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

KURT MAI.

